by Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : The contentious Citizenship (amendment) Bill was the one on banning issues. The set to lapse on June 3 when the term of the present Lok Sabha ends as they could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha which adjourned sine die on Wednesday. The Budget session was the last Parliament session of the present government. The 17th Lok Sabha has to be constituted before June 3. Lok Sabha polls are due this summer.Bills introduced in the Rajya Sabha and pending there do not lapse with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Bills passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha lapse. The opposition had been opposing provisions of the bill in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document. The legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session on January 8 and has been awaiting the Rajya Sabha’s nod.

There has been strong opposition to the bill in Assam and other Northeastern states. Student organisations, political parties and socio-cultural bodies have been protesting on the grounds that it seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who have come into India up to December 31, 2014, thereby increasing the deadline from 1971 as per the Assam Accord.Also, according to the Assam Accord, all illegal immigrants who have come after 1971, irrespective of their religion, have to be deported and this bill violates that. Two BJP chief ministers of the Northeast — Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu and Manipur’s N Biren Dingh — have also voiced their opposition to the contentious Bill. Congress party leaders, led by president Rahul Gandhi and opposition have staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the Parliament, demanding the central Government to scrap the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. Congress leaders raised slogans, ‘Chowkidar hi chor hai’. The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned due to the continued uproar on Wednesday by opposition parties. The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon.Since the commencement of the Rajya Sabha session, the ruckus erupting every other day has been hindering the proceedings of the Parliament. Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 was listed for business today at Rajya Sabha and Government in all likelihood would try to pass it while the Congress will lead a strong opposition to it.

Top 10 developments Citizenship Amendment Bill lapsed today as it did not get Rajya Sabha nod today. Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die following repeated interruptions by the Opposition. This was clear win for the people of India who protested against the CAB. This was also an outcome of the successful floor management by the Opposition The BJP backtracked at the last moment fearing more problem in the North East The Whole North East India was on boil protesting against CAB The BJP will now play “martyr card” promising to bring back CAB if voted back to power. The BJP has the option to bring the bill through an ordinance but generally there is no such precedence for an outgoing government. The new Lok Sabha after the General Elections have to bring in a new bill. Conrad Sangma, Meghalaya CM, emerges as the real hero. Congress credited for helping blockage of the Bill AASU, KMSS, AJYCP thanks people of Assam Manipur, Mizoram celebrates victory.